Machine for handling strip material



3 Sheets-Sheet 1 A. POTDEVIN MACHINE FOR HANDLING STRIP MATERIAL FiledApril 18, 1930 Oct. 17, 1933.

INVENTOR.

law

By I i: a; a6 M ATTORNEYS.

Oct. 17, 1933. v A, POTDEVIN 1,931,034

MACHINE FOR HANDLING STRIP MATERIAL Filed Apl il 18, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet2 i 5 INVENTQR.

A TTORNEYS.

Oct. 17, 1933. POTD-EVlN 1,931,034

MACHINE FOR HANDLING S TRIP MATERIAL Filed April 18, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet3 IN VEN TOR.

T EY A TORN Patented Oct. 17, 1933 v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFAICEMACHINE FOR HANDLING STRIP MATERIAL Application April 1a, 1930. SerialNor 445,447 29 Claims. (01. air-2.6)-

This invention relates to an improvement in machines for handling stripmaterial and has for one of its objects the provision of a machinewherein a web of material may be fed through the machine atv properspeed relatively to some mechanism (such as cutting off mechanism, forexample) which is to operate on the web and may be correctly positionedrelatively to such mechanism.

More specifically my invention relates to machines of the nature of bagmaking machines wherein the web of which the bags are constructed bearsan imprint of some kind, for instance printing at regular intervalsalong the 5 length of the web, the desideratum being that the paper orweb which travels continuously shall be cut off or severed byintermittently 0perated mechanism with predetermined relation to theimprints or other impressions carried by the web.

In such machines the web is frictionally advanced through the machine bythe rollers as distinguished from being positively advanced and inasmuchas a certain amount of slippage always occurs in feeding the web it willbe obvious that unless some means be provided for regulating the speedof the web as well as its position in the machine the cutting offmechanism will in time be out with respect to the imprints on the web.

Another factor which must be taken into consideration is the fact thatthe paper varies in length, due to the elasticity of the paper, at-

3 mospheric conditions, or for other reasons, which of course varies thespacing of the printed matter on the web, rendering it necessary toprovide some means for overcoming these variations which cannot beavoided.

Furthermore when printing the paper the paper is advanced by frictionrollers and if there is any slippage or unequal stretching of the webduring the printing operation the impressions on the web will not beuniform, andthis must be taken into consideration when cutting off theweb in making the bags.

For clarity of description I will refer throughout this specification tocutting off mechanism as the mechanism relative to which the imprints onthe web must be definitely positioned. This cutting off mechanism is, asabove mentioned,

intermittently operated at definite intervals. It will be apparent,therefore, that inasmuch as the speed of the cutting off mechanism isconstant,

any variation occurring in the spacing of the imprints on the paper orin the speed of the web (bringing of the imprints or impressions intoposition relatively to the cutting off mechanism) will result in the webbeing improperly severed or cut off with respect to these impres- Thepresent invention provides a machine, such as a paper bag makingmachine, for example, in which the feed rollers by which the web isadvanced through the machine are driven at an excess speed with respectto the intermittently operated cutting of! mechanism, means beingprovided whereby the web speed may be reduced without varying the speedof the cutting of! mechanism, so that the correct web length will beadvanced between each cutting off operation, means also being providedwhereby the position of the web in the machine may be varied so that thecutting of! operation takes place at the proper point relatively to theprinted matter on the web.

My invention has for a further object the provision of a mechanism ofthe general character above referred to in which the loss in bags whenmaking adjustments is reduced to a minimum.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

In the drawings accompanying this application:

Fig. 1 is a view in plan of my improved machine, the view being takensubstantially on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a part sectional elevation view of my improved machine; and

Fig. 3 is a view on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the typical example of my inventionillustrated comprises the intermittently operated cutting of! mechanismdesignated 1 and continuously rotated feed rollers 3.

Power for driving the machine is supplied by an electric motor 4 drivinga belt or chain 5 mounted on a main drive pulley 6. The main drivingpulley 6 is in eifect integral with a gear 7 and the pulley 6 and gear 7are both loosely mounted on a rotatable shaft 8.

The gear 7 is in constant mesh with a gear 9 carried on a short shaft 10mounted in a bearing in one side-frame 11 of the machine.

The shaft 10 carries a bevel gear 12 on its inner end, this gearconstituting one gear of a primary differential, the rotatable housingof which is designated 13. This differential housing carries a pluralityof differential pinions 14 meshing with the gear 12 and with adifferential gear 15, the latter being carried by a shaft 16 mounted inthe side-frame 17 of the machine at the opposite side from side-frame 11already referred to.

On the outer end of the shaft 16 is a spur gear 18 meshing with anintermediate gear 19 in mesh with a gear 20 fixed on the shaft 8. Thegear 20 is designed to rotate at a faster peripheral speed than the gear18 for reasons to be hereinafter pointed out. In practice I provide thegear 20 with one less tooth than the gear 18.

The shaft 8 which is mounted in bearings in the side-frames of themachine carries a gear 22 which is fast to the driving pulley 6 andmeshes with a gear 23 carried on a shaft 24 mounted in the machineframe. The shaft 24 drives the intermittently operated cutting offmechanism 1. ,Inasmuch as this mechanism constitutes no part of thepresent invention it has not been shown in any detail.

On the extreme outer end of the shaft 8 is a change gear 25 which isgeared to the shaft 26 carrying the feed rollers 3 through a gear traincomprising gears 2'7 and 28.

From the description thus far given it will be seen that the shaft 8 andhence the feed rollers 3 will be driven at a higher speed with referenceto cutting off mechanism 1 than would be the case if bolts 7' wereremoved, and bolt 22 which is adapted to hold gear 22 fast on shaft 8were set up, because of the fact that the gear 22 which drives thecutting off mechanism is fast to the drive pulley 6 which is loose onthe shaft 8, while the shaft 8 is driven from gear 18 which has one moretooth than gear 20 fast on'the shaft.

The housing 13 of the primary differential which is always in rotationis provided with a worm gear 29 in constant mesh with a worm 30- mountedon a shaft 31 passing through a secondary differential 32, and carryingat its end a bevel gear 33 meshing with a bevel gear 34 on a shaft 35provided with a sprocket 36.

The shaft 16 which as above mentioned carries the gear 18 is providedwith a sprocket 37 carrying asprocket chain 38 which is also ,mounted ona sprocket 39-on a shaft 40 of a Reeves drive. This Reeves drivecomprises a pair of double cone pulleys 42'and 43 and belt 44, thepulley 42 being mounted on the shaft 40 and the pulley 43 of a shaft 45.The shaft 45 carries a sprocket 46 provided with a chain 47 travelingover the sprocket 36 above referred to.

It will be apparent, therefore, that with the shaft 16 in motion theworm 30 will be driven through the Reeves drive above referred to andsecondary differential 32 so as to impart motion to the worm gear 29 andthe housing 13 of the primary differential.

The housing of the secondary differential 32 is provided with a wormgear 48 meshing with a. worm 49 on shaft 50, this shaft carrying asprocket 51 in turn carrying sprocket chain 52 driven by a sprocket 53on the armature shaft of a regulating or control motor 54. The motor 54is intermittently operated and only when necessary.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that rotation is imparted to theshaft 26 of the feed rollers 3 from the driving motor 4, belt or chain5, pulley 6, gears 7 and 9, primary differential, gears 18, 19 and 20 ata speed dependent upon the speed of the drive pulley 6 and the ratio ofthe gear 18 to the gear 20. In the present instance, as above pointedout, the gear 20 has one less tooth than the gear 18, consequently theshaft 8 will be driven slightly faster than the pulley 6. Shaft 24 runsat constant speed.

The worm wheel 29 fast on the housing 13 of the main or primarydifferential is constantly rotating through the Reeves drive which isdriven off the shaft 16 of the primary differential and consequently itwill be apparent that the speed of the shaft 8 can be varied to vary thedifference in speed between the feed rollers 3 and the cutting offmechanism 1 by regulating or varying the setting of the Reeves drive,anyvariation in the setting of this drive varying the speed of the worm30 and hence of the worm wheel 29 which will, of course, vary the speedof rotation of the differential housing 13. It will be appreciated ofcourse that with the differential housing 13 in rotation and always inthe same direction the speed of shaft 8 is lower than would be the caseif this housing were stationary.

This arrangement, therefore, provides a convenient apparatus forregulating the speed of the paper or other web material being advancedthrough the machine by the feed rollers 3 so that the length of paperfed between each operation of the cutting off mechanism may be properlycontrolled. This arrangement, however, is not all that is required in amachine of this character in that it merely permits a regulation of themachine whereby the proper amount of paper will be advanced between eachcutting off operation.

If, however, the web is not properly positioned in the machine so thatthe printing on the web is not properly positioned with respect to thecutting off mechanism, or if the printing is not properly spaced on theweb, it will be obvious that another adjustment of the web must be .1

made. It is for effecting this adjustment that I have provided thecontrol or regulating motor 54. Assuming that the operator watching themachine observes that the cutting off mechanism is operating improperlywith respect to the printed matter on the paper web, in other words,sees that the web is not in proper position with respect to the cuttingoff operation, it is merely necessary to energize the motor 54, toeffect,

through the worm 49 and worm gear 48, rotation of the housing 32 of thesecondary differential. This rotation of the otherwise stationaryhousing of this differential will of course effect a momentary change inthe speed of the shaft 31 carrying the worm 30, thereby to effect avariaj,

tion in the speed of the housing 13 of the primary differential with aresultant change in the speedof the shaft" 8 and a necessary temporaryaltered speed of rotation of the feed rollers 3. Operation of the motor54 is continued until the operator sees that the paper being operatedupon has been brought to proper position so as to bring the printedmatter carried by the web into predetermined relation with respect tothe cutting off mechanism 1.

When the web has thus been brought up to proper position with respect tothe cutting oif mechanism the circuit of the motor 54 is opened.

My invention as applied to the manufacture of paper bags, for instance,is of great advanfor any reason should vary excessively. With myimproved apparatus no perforating of the paper is required, nor is thepaper advanced any differently than in machines which have been in usefor years so far as the construction of the feed roller is concerned.

It will be appreciated also from the foregoing that my improvedapparatus is of great advantage in the initial starting up of themachine in that it enables the paper initially to be accurately locatedwith the minimum loss of stock, and permits of accurate adjustment ofthe web from time to time during operation with the minimum of effortand with the minimum loss in material being operated upon.

I have described my invention specifically in connection with cuttingoff mechanism in a bag making machine. This was for the purpose ofillustration and clarity of description only, inasmuch as it will beobvious that my invention is equally applicable to other uses and othermachines. The cutting'oif mechanism, for example, might be substitutedby some other operation which is to be performed on the web withparticular relation to certain predetermined areas of the paper. It isto be understood also that the printing on the web may be substituted byother devices the location of which must bear a predetermined relationto the point at which the paper is severed or at which some otheroperation is to be performed.

What I claim is:

1. Web handling mechanism comprising in combination friction rolls foradvancing the web, constant speed mechanism for intermittently operatingon the advancing web, adjustable variable speed mechanism tending todrive said rolls at'all times at a speed tending to advance the web inexcess of the necessary distance between consecutive operations of theintermittent mechanism, and means for adjusting the position of the webwith respect to the intermittent mechanism.

2. Web handling apparatus comprising in combination friction rolls foradvancing the web, constant speed mechanism for intermittently operatingon the advancing web, a constant speed prime mover for driving saidintermittent mechanism and for driving said rolls at all times at aspeed tending to advance the web in excess of the required distancebetween consecutive operations of the intermittent mechanism, andadjustable transmission mechanism intermediate the prime mover and saidrolls for varying the position'of the web with respect to theintermittent mechanism.

3. Web handling apparatus comprising in combination friction rolls foradvancing the web, constant speed mechanism for intermittently operatingon the advancing web, a constant speed prime mover for driving the rollsand intermittent mechanism, the rolls running at such speed that the webwill tend to be advanced not less than the required distance betweenconsecutive operations of the intermittent mechanism, variable speedtransmission mechanism intermediate the prime mover and rolls forvarying the web speed, and additional variable speed transmissionmechanism for varying the position of the web in the machine withrespect to the intermittent mechanism.

4. Web handling apparatus comprising in combination friction rolls foradvancing the web, constant speed mechanism for intermittently operatingon the advancing web, a prime mover for driving the intermittentmechanism, a differential transmission intermediate the prime mover androlls for driving the rolls at such speed that the web will always tendto be advanced not less than the necessary distance between consecutiveoperations of the intermittent mechanism, means for altering saiddifferential transmission to effect a permanent change in the web speed,a second differential, and a motor for varying the speed thereof wherebythe position of the web'relatively to the intermittent mechanism isvaried.

5. In a machine for handling strip material a pair of feed rollers forfrictionally advancing a web of material, means including a pair ofdifferentials for transmitting power from a prime mover to said rollersto drive the same, constant speed mechanism driven by said prime moverfor intermittently operating on the advancing web, the said rollersbeing driven at such speed that the web at all times will tend toadvance not less than the desired distance between consecutiveoperations of the intermittent mechanism, means for adjusting one ofsaid differentials thereby to vary the other and effect a slowing up ofthe web to shift the web relatively to the intermittent mechanism, andmeans for effecting a permanent variation in the surface speed of thefeed rollers without varying the speed of the prime mover.

6. In a machine for handling strip material the combination of a pair offeed rollers frictionally to advance the strip or web, constant speedmechanism for intermittently operating on said web, said rollers at alltimes tending to advance the Web not less than the necessary distancebetween consecutive operations of the intermittent mechanism, means forreducing the speed of said rollers momentarily to vary the setting orposition of the web with respect to the intermittent mechanism, andmeans for varying the speed of said rolls permanently to vary the speedof the web, each of said means being operative while the machine is inopera-.

tion.

7. In a machine for handling strip material the combination of a pair offeed rollers for frictionally advancing a strip or web, constant speedmechanism for intermittently operating on said web, said rollers at alltimes tending to advance the web not less than the necessary distancebetween consecutive operations of the intermittent mechanism, a primemover for driving said rollers and intermittentmechanism, transmissionmeans interposed between the prime mover and said rollers for thetransmission of power to said rollers, means for permanently varyingsaid power transmitting means, and electrically operated means foradjusting said transmission mechanism to vary temporarily the surfacespeed of the feed rollers to vary the position of the web with respectto the intermittent mechanism, each of said means being operative whilethe machine is in operation and the prime mover running at constantspeed.

8. In a machine for handling strip material the combination of a pair offeed rollers for frictionally advancing a strip or web, constant speedintermittent mechanism for operating on said advancing web, a primemover for driving said rollers and intermittent mechanism, said rollersat all times tending to advance the web not less than the necessarydistance between consecutive operations of the intermittent mechanism,means for permanently varying the surface speed of said feed rollers,and an electrically operated means for varying the surface speed of saidrollers momentarily, each of said means being operative while themachine is in operation and the speed of the prime mover remainsunvaried.

9. In a machine for handling strip material the combination of a pair offeed rollers for frictionally effecting the continuous advance of astrip or web, driving mechanism for said rollers including a pair ofdifferentials, constant speed intermittent mechanism for operating onsaid advancing web, said rollers traveling at such speed that the web atall times will tend to be advanced not less than the necessary distancebetween consecutive operations of the intermittent mechanism, and anelectric motor for varying the relation of said differentials to varytemporarily the surface speed of said rollers to reduce the speed of theweb whereby the web will be shifted with respect to its positionrelatively to the intermittent mechanism.

10. Web handling mechanism comprising in combination constant speedmechanism for intermittently operating on an advancing web, frictionrolls for advancing the web to the intermittently operating mechanism,the friction rolls at all times tending to impart a linear speed to theweb sufficient to advance the web in excess of the required distancebetween consecutive operations of the intermittent mechanism, and meansoperating continuously for reducing the speed of said rolls whereby onlythe required amount of web is advanced between consecutive operations ofthe intermittent mechanism.

11. Web handling apparatus comprising in combination constant speedmechanism for intermittently operating on an advancing web, frictionrolls for advancing the web to the intermittently operating mechanism,the friction rolls at all times tending to impart a linear speed to theweb suflicient to advance the web in excess of the required distancebetween consecutive operations of the intermittent mechanism, andadjustable means operating continuously for reducing the speed of saidrolls whereby only the required amount of web is advanced betweenconsecutive operations of the intermittent mechanism.

12. Web handing mechanism comprising in combination constant speedmechanism for in-,

termittently operating on an advancing web, friction rolls for advancingthe web to the intermittently operating mechanism, the friction rolls atall times tending to impart a linear speed to the web suflicient toadvance the web in excess of the required distance between consecutiveoperations of the intermittent mechanism, and adjustable means operatingcontinuously for permanently effecting reduction in speed of said rollswhereby the web speed is altered so that the web is advanced only therequired distance between consecutive operations of the intermittentmechanism.

13. Web handling apparatus comprising in combination constant speedmechanism for intermittently operating on an advancing web, frictionrolls for advancing the web to the intermittently operating mechanism,the friction rolls at all times tending to impart a linear speed to theweb sufficient to advance the web in excess of the required distancebetween consecutive operations of the intermittent mechanism,

and adjustable differential mechanism for temporarily effecting areduction in the speed of said rolls to vary the setting of the web withrespect to the intermittently operating mechanism. Y

14. Web handling mechanism comprising in combination constant speedmechanism for in termittently operating on an advancing web, frictionrolls for advancing the web to the intermittently operating mechanism,the friction rolls at all times tending to impart a linear speed to theweb sufficient to advance the web in excess of the required distancebetween consecutive operations of the intermittent mechanism, andadjustable means for temporarily effecting a reduction .in the speed ofsaid rolls to vary the setting of the web with respect to saidintermittently operating mechanism, and means operating continuously forpermanently effecting 'a reduction in the speed of said rolls wherebythe web speed is altered so that the web is advanced only the requireddistance between consecutive operations of the intermittent mechanism.

15. Web handling apparatus comprising in combination feed rollers foradvancing the web, constant speed mechanism for intermittently operatingon the advancing web, a constant speed prime mover for driving therollers and intermittent mechanism) the rollers running at such speedthat the web will tend to advance not less than the required distancebetween consecutive operations of the intermittent mechanism, means forincreasing or decreasing selectively the surface speed of said rollers,and means for permanently varying the surface speed of said rollers,each of said means being operative while maintaining constant the speedof the prime mover.

16. Web handling apparatus comprising in combination a pair of feedrollers for advancing the web, constant speed mechanism forintermittently operating on the advancing web, a constant speed primemover for driving the rollers and intermittent mechanism, the rollersrunning at such speed that the web will tend to advance not less thanthe required distance between consecutive operations of the intermittentmechanism, means for varying the surface speed of said rollersintermittently to vary the setting of the web, and means for varyingsaid surface speed permanently, each of said means being operative whilethe machine is in opera- 17. Web handling apparatus comprising incombination means for advancing the web, constant speed mechanism forintermittently operating on the advancing web, a prime mover for drivingthe web advancing means and the intermittent mechanism, the webadvancing means running at such speed that the web will tend to advancenot less than the required distance between consecutive operations ofthe intermittent mechanism, and means for varying the speed of the webadvancing means permanently while the machine is in operation and whilemaintaining constant the speed of the prime mover.

18. Web handling apparatus comprising in combination web advancingmeans, constant speed mechanism for intermittently operating on theadvancing web, the web advancing means tending to advance the web notless than the required distance between consecutive operations of theintermittent mechanism, means for temporarily varying the speed of theweb advancing means to vary the setting of the web, and

means for permanently varying the speed of the web advancing means, eachof said means being operable while the machine is in operation. 19. Webhandling apparatus comprising in combination web advancing means, aprime mover therefor, constant speed mechanism for intermittentlyoperating on the web, said prime mover tending to advance the web notless than the required distance between consecutive operations of theintermittent mechanism, means for temporarily varying the linear speedof a web being handled to vary its setting, and means for permanentlyvarying the linear speed of the web, each of said means being operativewhile the machine is in operation and while maintaining constant thespeed of said prime mover.

20. Web handling apparatus comprising in combination, web advancingmeans, a prime mover therefor, constant speed mechanism forintermittently operating on an advancing web, said prime mover tendingto advance the web not less than the required distance betweenconsecutive operations of the intermittent mechanism, means fortemporarily and means for permanently varying the linear speed of a webbeing advanced by the machine, each of said means being operative withthe prime mover in operation and running at. a constant speed.

21. Web handling apparatus comprising in combination web advancingmeans, constant speed mechanism for intermittently operating on theadvancing web, said web advancing means running at such speed that theweb will tend to advance not less than the required distance betweenconsecutive operations of the intermit-' tent mechanism, means fortemporarily and means for permanently varying the linear speed of theweb, each of said means being operative with the web in motion.

22. Web handling apparatus comprising in combination web advancingmeans, constant speed mechanism for intermittently operating on theadvancing web, the web advancing means running at such speed that theweb will tend to advance not less than the required distance betweenconsecutive operations of the intermittent mechanism, means fortemporarily and means for permanently varying the linear speed of theweb, said means being operative independently of each other and whilethe web is in motion.

23. Web handling apparatus comprising in combination a pair of feedrollers for advancing the web, constant speed mechanism forintermittently operating on the advancing web, a prime mover for drivingthe rollers and intermittent mechanism, the web advancing rollersrunning at such speed that the web will tend to advance not less thanthe required distance between consecutive operations of the intermittentmechanism, a variable drive and differential interposed between theprime mover and said rollers, and means for varying the action of thesaid drive and differential to permanently vary the surface speed of thefeed rollers while maintaining constant the speed of the prime mover.

24. Web handling apparatus comprising in combination a pair of feedrollers for advancing the web, constant speed mechanism forintermittently operating on the advancing web, a prime mover for drivingthe rollers and intermittent mechanism, the rollers running at suchspeed that the web will tend to advance not less than the requireddistance between consecutive operations of the intermittent mechanism,means including a pair of differentials intermediate said prime moverand said rollers, and means for adjusting one of said differentialsthereby to vary the other of said differentials to effect a momentaryvariation in the surface speed of the said feed rollers and operativewhile the differentials are in operation.

25. Web handling apparatus comprising in combination web advancingmeans, constant speed mechanism for intermittently operating on theadvancing web, a prime mover for the web advancing means and saidconstant speed mechanism, the web advancing means running at such speedthat the web willtend to advance not less than the required distancebetween consecutive operations of the intermittent mechanism, a pair ofdifferentials cooperable with the prime mover and web advancing means,and means for shifting the housing of one differential to effect achange in the relation of the two differentials to vary momentarily thespeed of the web advancing means.

26. Web handling apparatus comprising in combination a pair of feedrollers for advancing the web, constant speed mechanism forintermittently operating on the advancing web, drive mechanism therefor,said feed rollers running at such speed that the web will tend toadvance not less than the required distance between consecutiveoperations of the intermittent mechanism, a pair of differentialscooperable with the feed rollers and drive mechanism, and means forshifting the housing of one differential to shift the pinions carriedthereby, thereby to effect a change in the relation of the twodifferentials to vary momentarily the surface speed of the rollers.

27. Web handling apparatus comprising in combination a pair of feedrollers foradvancing a web, constant speed mechanism for intermittentlyoperating on the advancing web, drive mechanism for said rollers andconstant speed mechanism, the rollers running at such speed that the webwill tend to advance not less than the required distance betweenconsecutive operations of the intermittent mechanism, a pair ofdifferentials cooperable with the said drive mechanism and constantspeed mechanism, the housing of one differential normally beingstationary, and means for rotating said normally stationary differentialhousing to vary the relation between the two differentials, said changeeffecting a change in surface speed of said rollers with a correspondingchange in linear speed of the web.

28. Web handling apparatus comprising in combination a pair of feedrollers for advancing a web, constant speed mechanism for intermittentlyoperating on the advancing web, a prime mover for the feed rollers andconstant speed mechanism, the rollers running at such speed that the webwill tend to advance not less than the required distance betweenconsecutive operations of the intermittent mechanism, a pair ofdifferentials intermediate the prime mover and said feed rollers, meansfor adjusting one of said differentials thereby to vary the other andeffect a momentary variation in the surface speed of the said feedrollers, and means for effecting a permanent variation in the surfacespeed of the feed rollers without varying the speed of the prime mover.

29. Web handling apparatus comprising in combination web advancingmeans, constant speedmechanism for intermittently operating on runningat such speed that the web will tend to advance not less than therequired distance between consecutive operations of the intermittentmechanism, a pair of difierentials for regulating the speed oi. said webadvancing means, means for shifting the housing of one differential toeffect a change in the relation of the two difier- ADOLPH POTDEVIN.

